In April Senate Bill 50 became law in Kentucky, ending the state’s prohibition on hemp, while making state-licensed cultivation contingent on a change in federal law. Now that the Obama Administration has announced that they won’t enforce federal law in states where cannabis has been made legal, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and the Agriculture Department’s attorney Luke Morgan stated today that this allows the state to move forward with licensing hemp producers; Comer will push for the state to begin licensing by the year’s end, with legal hemp cultivation beginning next year.

“The DOJ memo removes any question that SB 50 and the changes to Kentucky’s laws in this legislation may be immediately implemented,” stated Morgan, who says that the memo clarifies “that the federal government does not and will not view Kentucky’s industrial hemp as an illegal product.”

“It’s about time,” says Comer, speaking about the Obama Administration’s recent announcement, “Two years ago, the Obama administration would not even discuss the legalization of industrial hemp. But through a bi-partisan coalition of Kentucky leaders, we forced their hand.”

This new decision is sure to excite those in Kentucky, a large majority of which support industrial hemp; a poll in February found only 22% in the state oppose its legalization.

Anthony Martinelli

Anthony is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog. He has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for King County (WA) Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. He has been published by multiple media outlets, and is a former contributor for Village Voice Media.

The feral hemp seed produced this year by so-called “ditchweed” that survived last year’s drought is the the most hardy and therefore valuable hemp seed on Earth. I trust that Kentucky farmers are harvesting the most vigorous and productive, early finishing hemp this year, as a matter of national security.